Aviation fuels partnership.

• Author: GOULIQUER, DIANNE
• Position: Brief Article

Wasaya and Manitoba petroleum supplier target northwest

A new fuel partnership between a northern Ontario First Nations company and a Manitoba-based petroleum company has been finalized, and officials say the deal will offer First Nations communities profits and training opportunities.

Wasaya Airways Limited Partnership, owned by eight First Nations communities north of Thunder Bay, has entered into a partnership agreement with Northland Petroleum of Winnipeg, Man.

Tom Morris, Wasaya vice-president, says the agreement is inline with the company's mission of acquiring significant interest in viable businesses important to First Nation people for the purpose of generating economic benefits and returns while maintaining cultural principles and values.

Morris says that most of Northland's business in Ontario involves the eight communities that own Wasaya, so it only made sense to strike a deal.

"On the Ontario side, the amount of business (Wasaya Airways) generate with Northland represents the majority of the business that they do in Ontario," Morris says.

"So it made it viable and feasible for us to develop this limited partnership, called Wasaya Petroleum Limited Partnership.

Under the agreement, Wasaya owns 51 per cent of the limited partnership while Northland owns the remaining 49 per cent and will act as the management team.

"We'll have our administration offices in Winnipeg, plus...